Li said the friendly cooperative relations between China and Malaysia had entered a new phase since the 1990s with across-the-board bilateral cooperation including the judiciary.

He said Dzaidin's China tour would definitely boost exchanges between the judicial circles of both countries and contribute to the growth of bilateral ties.

He said China's democratic and legal structure had made important progress in line with the concept of governing the country according to law. The socialist legal framework with the Constitution at the center had taken shape, he said.

China was in the process of creating new laws and revising those laws and regulations unsuitable for the socialist market economy, he said, adding that law-making provided the legal guarantee for reforms, development, stability and modernization of the country.

China had also sped up its law-making and revision process since joining the World Trade Organization, he said.

China was keen to learn from other countries in legal and judicial areas and expand communication in such fields with other countries, he said.

Dzaidin said he had a better understanding of China's legal practice through his visit and hoped to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between Malaysia and China.

(People's Daily October 30, 2002)